Nuriel (Hebrew:נוּרִיאֵלNūrīʾēl; meaning: "El/God is my fire" or "El/God is my light")[1][2] is anangel inJudaism who is responsible for hailstorms.[3] He is thearchangelUriel, whose name changes when inclined towards judgment.[4]
In Jewish legend, Moses encountered Nuriel in the 2nd heaven.[5] It is said in theZohar that when a person opens his lips during the weekdays at Arvit (the evening prayer), an eagle descends to carry the prayer of the night upon its wings. (This eagle is called) Nuriel. He is called Uriel from the aspect ofChesed and Nuriel from the aspect ofGevurah, which is a burning fire about which it is written: "A fiery stream issued and came forth" (Daniel 7:10).[6]
According to theZohar, Nuriel governsVirgo.[7] He is 300parasangs (approx. 5.6 km) tall and has an army of 50myriads of angels (= 500,000) "all fashioned out of water and fire."[8] The height of Nuriel is exceeded only by theErelim, by the watchers, by Af and Hemah, and of course byMetatron, who is the tallest hierarch in heaven. Nuriel is also effective as a charm for warding off evil. His name is found engraved onoriental andHebrew amulets, notably those worn by pregnant women.[9]
Outside of Judaism, in theSyriacBook of Protection, Nuriel is characterized as a "spellbinding power" and is grouped withMichael,Shamsiel,Seraphiel, and other great angels.[10] Ingnostic lore, Nuriel is one of seven subordinates toJehuel, prince of fire.[7]